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Military geology is the application of geological theory to warfare and the peacetime practices of the military. The formal practice of military geology began during the Napoleonic Wars; however, geotechnical knowledge has been applied since the earliest days of siege warfare.[1][2][3] In modern warfare military geologists are used for terrain analysis, engineering, and the identification of resources. Military geologists have included both specially trained military personnel and civilians incorporated into the military. The peacetime application of military geology includes the building of infrastructure, typically during local emergencies or foreign peacekeeping deployments.[1]
Warfare can change the physical geology. Examples of this include artillery shattering the bedrock on the Western Front during World War I[4] and the detonation of nuclear weapons creating new rock types.[5] Military research has also led to many important geological discoveries.
- ^ a b James R. Underwood, Jr. Peter L. Guth (1998). "Military Geology in War and Peace". Geological Society of America. 13. ISSN 0080-2018.
- ^ Erdmann, C. E. (1943). "Application of geology to the principles of war". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 54 (8): 1169–1194. Bibcode:1943GSAB...54.1169E. doi:10.1130/GSAB-54-1169. ISSN 0016-7606.
- ^ Kiersch, George A.; Underwood, James R. (1998). "Geology and military operations, 1800–1960: An overview". Military Geology in War and Peace. Reviews in Engineering Geology. Vol. 13. pp. 5–28. doi:10.1130/REG13-p5. ISBN 0-8137-4113-0. ISSN 0080-2018.
- ^ Bressan, David (2014). "Battlefield Earth – the Geological Legacy of War". blogs.scientificamerican.com.
- ^ Eby, Nelson; Hermes, Robert; Charnley, Norman; Smoliga, John A. (2010). "Trinitite—the atomic rock". Geology Today. 26 (5): 180–185. Bibcode:2010GeolT..26..180E. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2451.2010.00767.x. ISSN 1365-2451.